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Redlip Blenny
Blenny

Redlip Blenny

Ophioblennius atlanticus

A characterful Atlantic algae-grazer with comical red lips and a blunt face, happiest perched on rockwork rasping film algae. It stays peaceful as a youngster but becomes distinctly territorial with size, defending its patch with two long canine teeth against other bottom-dwellers and its own kind — keep just one. It can nip at stony corals and clam mantles, and as a surge-zone fish it is an accomplished jumper that needs a tight lid.

Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Max size
4.7"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe with caution
Diet
Herbivore
Zone
Rockwork, Bottom
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Redlip Blenny gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Tailspot BlennyCombining the Redlip with other small blennies is discouraged; it will dominate a peaceful Ecsenius.Midas BlennyBoth are semi-aggressive blennies; the fanged Redlip is territorial toward other blennies, though the midwater Midas overlaps less.Bicolor BlennyThe Redlip is territorial toward closely related/other blennies; the Bicolor competes for the same grazing rockwork.Lawnmower BlennyTwo territorial algae-grazing blennies competing for the same grazing surfaces; the fanged Redlip is the aggressor.Starry BlennyThe Redlip is territorial toward other grazing blennies; the Salarias Starry blenny shares its niche.Molly Miller BlennyThe Redlip is territorial toward other blennies and shares the algae-grazing/rock niche with the Molly Miller.Barnacle BlennyA small 6 cm perching blenny is easily bullied by the fanged, territorial Redlip over rock perches.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.Porcupine PufferPorcupine Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Redlip Blenny.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Kole TangRedlip Blenny and Kole Tang both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Sixline WrasseRedlip Blenny and Sixline Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Melanurus WrasseRedlip Blenny and Melanurus Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Coral HawkfishRedlip Blenny and Coral Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Springer's DottybackRedlip Blenny and Springer's Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Purple DottybackRedlip Blenny and Purple Dottyback both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.FirefishLarge Redlips can become territorial toward gobies and dartfish sharing bottom/perch space, especially in small tanks.Yellow Clown GobyRedlip Blenny (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Yellow Clown Goby and may harass it.Green Clown GobyRedlip Blenny (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Green Clown Goby and may harass it.Longnose HawkfishRedlip Blenny and Longnose Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Potter's AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Potter's Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Red Coris WrasseRedlip Blenny and Red Coris Wrasse both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Flame HawkfishRedlip Blenny and Flame Hawkfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Saddleback ClownfishRedlip Blenny and Saddleback Clownfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Cherub AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Cherub Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Multicolor AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Multicolor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Spotted MandarinRedlip Blenny and Spotted Mandarin both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Rusty AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Rusty Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Emperor AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Emperor Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.Regal AngelfishRedlip Blenny and Regal Angelfish both claim the same part of the tank and may squabble.